How does it feel to be a minority?

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I'm Asian... and I applied to a few schools with a population of about 50%-80% Caucasians.. and approximately 5% Asians. How does it feel to be a minority? I attended a high school that had 80% Asian.. Well, it seemed like that anyway. :p</p>

<p>I know college people are known to be more friendly and what not.</p>

<p>Do people tend to reach out and talk to you, or are you just like any other person, or do they shun you? I'm sure everyone has/had different experience(s). Care to share? : )</p>

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<p>Ask the white people at your high school. :p</p>

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<p>Ahaha, that's funny. To be honest, I've only seen like... 3 around. Maybe I just don't run into them. xD</p>

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<p>You also can connect with the Asian clubs at the schools that interest you, and ask the members about their experiences as minorities. If you can't find those clubs on the school website, ask admissions for help. They aren't going to think badly of you for wondering about this issue.</p>

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<p>usually the asians just form little packs and isolate themselves.</p>

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<p>^ Indeed.</p>

<p>10charmanders</p>

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<p>what russell said also applies to my university, but I believe that is because most of the asians at my school are foreign students who don't speak English very well and would rather stick to people with whom they can speak their own language. If you are American, and just have an asian background, it shouldn't be that hard to make friends with non-asians.</p>

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<p>I don't think I'd have problems communicating with other people. LOL. I'm probably going to have to cope with culture shock for a while though.</p>

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<p>Well I don't think it's too big of a deal. I'm a senior in high school right now and I'm asian at a school that's probably about 5% asian or so. What you get most is stereotyping. Oh just cause you're asian then you're smart, or a geek, etc. But once you get to know people it really doesn't matter. Most people don't make too much of it, although it might be different depending what state you're in.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Do people tend to reach out and talk to you, or are you just like any other person, or do they shun you? I'm sure everyone has/had different experience(s). Care to share? : )

[/quote]

No one at my school really cares or treats you differently because you are a minority</p>

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<p>This can't be a serious question unless you've never stepped foot outside of your high school...</p>

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<p>^ Well, a high school usually reflects the demographics of its surrounding community...</p>

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<p>A look at your posting history shows that you're interested in Boston University. Boston University recruited very heavily in Asia in the 1980s and 1990s for international students. You should fit right in there as it is Boston, a multicultural city.</p>

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<p>HAha... :\ I'm not taking the TOEFL test, so I'm basically leaving my app incomplete = no chance of getting into BU for sure. </p>

<p>@ LW Trojan; Yawn's right. I go to a predominately Asian high school, so you'd figure I live in a predominately Asian city.</p>

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<p>^^^^Not necessarily. Take for example a historically black college. While the university may be composed of mostly African Americans, the demographics of the surrounding community may not necessarily be the same. I can't assume anything beyond what you have posted. That said, this can't be a serious question unless you've never stepped foot outside of your community...</p>

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<p>^ Maybe she doesn't have feet.</p>

<p>Don't be so insensitive!</p>

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<p>That's different though. When I do "step outside of my community", I'm either with my friends or family... rarely would I ever go anywhere unfamiliar to me alone. I have very minimal contact with people outside my race... just because that's the way it is. College is a different environment simply because I won't have my friends/family with me, AND I'm going to see these people on a daily basis. </p>

<p>I'm not a hermit. I can befriend/connect with people quite well.. or at least, I think so. I'm not concerned about not being able to make friends outside my race. The reason I made this thread was to hear other people's experience(s).</p>

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<p>To answer your original question, I don't think being a minority is any different from being part of the majority. Yes, there may be a lurking feeling of being different, but in college I think you'll learn to enjoy that sort of diversity. Personally, I think it makes for the best learning experience. And whatever college you decide to go to, you'll probably find Asian friends, just as you will find other minorities that you will be able to identify with.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
usually the asians just form little packs and isolate themselves.

[/quote]

this is basically what i've always observed. you'll probably be fine. </p>

<p>our school is like 6% asian but it seems like 20% because they always move in groups.</p>

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<p>Hopefully this wasn't inspired by that new Clint Eastwood movie... lol.</p>

<p>It's a shame that you have barely had any contact with anyone who's not asian - especially in the United States. It just seems like you're missing out.</p>

<p>To be honest, there's not really any tension or 'racial sensitivities' between asians and whites, or asians and blacks for that matter, if that's what you're concerned about. Not that I'm saying anything concerning whites and blacks; hell I'm white and I have several black friends, my roomate was black, my boss was black, my coworkers were black... it's just that there's definitely some sensitivies I've noticed--- my good friend would tell me racial issues I wouldn't know how to address, black girls would stereotype me and other 'white guys.' I just think there's a bigger solidarity and racial consciousness among some groups than others. And frankly, I don't think U.S. born asians are really much closed off among themselves. Even many foreign born asians aren't closed off to their own group, I've found.</p>

<p>In other words, I can't picture an Asian feeling much like a minority, although I could be wrong. Like, have you ever noticed a non-black person who doesn't have much experience with other races copiously using the word African-American when in the room with black people? Like, they are making things awkward b/c they don't realize saying black is perfectly, uh.. fine and are awkwardly trying to walk on eggshells. I don't think you'll experience things like that.</p>

<p>But, anyway, I've had miny isolated experiences where I've been a "minority." Like, being the only white guy at an all-black party; being the only white guy on the train, being the only white guy at work, etc. Isolated incidents like that. There's definitely a spotlight effect, or the feeling that the entire room is watching you (because you are noticeably different/ possibly an "outsider"). But that's just it: you might be feeling some pressure or some anxiety, maybe b/c as a child we were taught to "fit in" and not "stand out" -- but no one else around cares. It's just a delusion.</p>

<p>Anyway, if you're an asian women a lot of white guys will be all over you anyway, so I don't think you'll have problems making friends from all sorts of groups.</p>

<p>*Btw I've never noticed Asians hanging out in pods or whatever. There's tons at my school - and they're just all over, intermingled with everyone. I've noticed this in my home state as well. Cool, nerdy, hip-hop, bohemian, athlete, dancer, musician - the niche or ecs determine more than the race, I believe. My uni does tend to randomly "room" students of like-race together, though.</p>

<p>Actually, I've been thinking it over, and it's actually the complete opposite. Every asian I know is utterly surrounded with white people; hardly any other asian friends or best friends. The vast majority (with one or two exceptions) are dating white people (or hispanic) as well. I don't know what schools these asian pods form. Black people are a different story, but a great deal of them at my smaller school are athletes - so that's definitely a factor.</p>